Nonrefillable bottle



Dec. 6, 1938.. L. A. IHLEIN NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE Filed April 6, 1938 INVENTOR l z I I I ,1

a Jazz 1 I FM ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STAT 1 2,139,020 I NONREFIIiLABLE BOTTLE Ludwig A; man, Philadelphia, Pa. Application April 6,1938, Serial No. 206,382

. 8 Claims.

The object of this invention is to devise a novel non-refillable attachment which can be applied to'the neck of a bottle and which will provide for a a free flow of the liquid during normal use; but '5 which, when the bottle is empty, will prevent the refilling of the bottle.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel non-refillable mechanism which can be economically manufactured, which is fool proof, and which will be reliable and accurate in oper;

ation. I

With the above and other objects in view as will hereinafter clearly appear, my invention comprehends a novel non-refillable bottle. It further comprehends novel non-refillable mechanism having means to positively lock it in sealed position When the liquid in the bottle has been dispensed.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter clearly appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing, a typical embodiment of it, which, in practice, will give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and my invention is not limited to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a bottle with the non-refillable mechanism in position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the parts in inverted position and'the bottle portion in section.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of parts of the non-refillable mechanism.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale of assembled parts of the-non-refillable mechanism.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of certain parts of the mechanism.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is a top plan View of a disc and valve forming part of the mechanism.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of .a portion of the vent tube on an enlarged scale.

Similar numerals indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing:

The casing or body portion is in the form of a 'split sleeve having the sections I and 2 which are provided on their inner faces with grooves 3, l, 5 and 6. The outer groove 3 receives an apertured disc! fixed to a discharge tube 8. An inlet tube 9, in communication with the liquid in a bottle l0, has an apertured disc II to seat in the groove 6. A valve [2 has a stem passing into the inlet tube 9 with suitable clearance with the inner walls of such tube 9. The valve l2 has longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced grooves 13 in its outer periphery and its bottom face is adapted to normally rest on the disc H and close the opening through the inlet tube 9.

l4 designates a tubular bafile having an apertured disc iii to seat in the groove 4. The outer end of the bafile l4 forms a conical head l6, and between such head and the disc [5 is an annular groove l7, which opens into the bore of the baffle through a port I8. A valve l9, having its outer end coned, is slidable in the baflie, and has, at its lower end, flexible prongs 20 having catches 2|, which, when the valve 19 is pushed all of the way inwardly, will lock with the bottom walls of an apertured disc 22 seated in the groove 5.

23 designates a vent tube fixed to the inner wall of a casing section in any desired manner. The upper end of the vent tube preferably terminates below the upper end of the casing, and its lower portion extends into the liquid in the bottle. The vent tube has an opening 24 at its lower portion, controlled by a locking sleeve 25 slidable on the vent tube, and has its downward movement limited by a stop 26 on the vent tube. The locking sleeve 25 is carried by a float 21, which carries at its upper end a spring catch 28, which cooperates with a shouldered lug 29 on the vent tube, having a rounded lower portion. The vent tube has a ball valve 30 which engages a seat 3! when the bottle is upright, and which moves against a stop 32 when the bottle is inverted. The vent tube has an aperture 33 in its side wall opening into the casing and this aperture can be permanently sealed by a locking tube 34 having a working fit in the vent tube. The locking tube 34 is moved into locked position by a tube 35 which contacts the irregularly shaped end of the locking tube 34.

The casing sections are secured in any desired manner in an outer sleeve 36. This-may be accomplished by soldering or welding if the parts are metallic or by cementing or interlocking such parts in any desired manner for example by indenting one into the other. The outer sleeve secures the part as an assembled unit, and such outer sleeve is permanently fixed in the neck of the bottle in any desired manner, for example by the port 24 is still open.

cementing or casting it in place or by a threaded engagement as shown in Figure 6.

The diiferent discs are notched to provide clearance for the vent tube.

The locking sleeve 25 has a cut out portion 31. The tube 34, see Figure 8, may have an aperture 38.

The operation will now be readily apparent to those skilled in this art and is as follows:

Assuming that the non-refillable mechanism has been permanently fixed in the neck of a bottle containing the liquid to be dispensed, and the operator inverts the bottle, the liquid will freely flow through the inlet tube 9, as the valve I2 has moved forwardly away from the disc I I, into the baffle l4, through port I8 into the casing around the head I6 along the outer end of the valve f9 and through the discharge tube 31. The cork 21 rides up towards the bottom of the bottle when the bottle is inverted, so that the cut out portion 31 of the sleeve 25 connected with the float uncovers the aperture 24 of the vent tube toprovide for the proper venting through the vent tube.

The cut out portion 31, leaves a narrow strip which does not cover the port 24 in the vent tube 23. When the partsare in the position seen in Figures 1 and- 4, the vent aperture 24 is open and when the float 2'! moves towardsthe bottom of the bottle when the bottle is inverted, The spring catch 28 engaging the stop 29, limits the upward movement of the float when the bottle is in an upright position. When the liquid in the bottle has been dispensed, the operator gives the bottle an abrupt shake with the bottle inverted, and the spring catch 28 will move down below the stop 29 and thus cause the sleeve 25 to close the port 24 and thereby prevent the venting action of the vent tube.

It the liquid has been dispensed, the nonrefillable mechanism can be permanently locked by pushing in on the valve l9 to cause the spring catches 20 to pass through the openingin the fixed disc 22 and the catches or prongs 2| will lock against the bottom face of such disc. Since the members 20 when in this position, press the valve l2 against its seat on the disc H',liquid can not pass from the bottle. throughv the inlet port 9.

I also provide means to prevent refilling of the bottle, namely the tubes 34 and 35.

When the tube 35 is moved downwardly it. pushes the tube 34 downwardly to bring the aperture 38 into registry with the aperture 33 of the vent tube. It a suction is created at the upper end of the vent tube air will be drawn from the interior of the body portion and the bottle cannot be refilled.

If a pressure is applied to the upper end of the vent tube the ball will be pressed against its seat 3!.

The valve l9 or the tubes 34- and. 35 or both of such parts can be omitted if desired.

The member 36 may be provided with means to prevent its being unscrewed as shown in Figure 6,

one Way of accomplishing. this result being the indentations illustrated.

The bafiie and also the valve l9, if employed, prevent the insertion of a wire or other instrument to attempt to hold the valve l2 in its open position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A non-refillable bottle mechanism, comprising a body portion, a delivery tube fixed within one end of said body portion, an inlet tube fixed within the inlet end of said body portion, a bafiie between said tubes, a vent tube in the body portion, extending into the liquid in the bottle and having an aperture, a float slidable on the vent tube and having means to control the vent aperture, a stop, and a catch carried by the float and locking with said step to cause said float means to permanently close the vent aperture when the liquid in the bottle has been dispensed.

2. A non-refillable bottle mechanism, comprising a body portion, a delivery tube fixed within one end of said body portion, an inlet tube fixed within the inlet end of said body portion, a baffle between said tubes, a valve to close the inlet tube, means to permanently seat the valve in closed position when the liquid in the bottle has been dispensed, a vent tube in the body portion, extending into the liquid in the bottle and having an aperture, a float slidable on the vent tube and having means to control the vent aperture, a stop, and a catch carried by the float and locking with said stop to cause said float means to permanently close the vent aperture when the liquid in the bottle has been dispensed.

3. A non-refillable bottle mechanism, comprising a body portion, a delivery tube fixed within one end of said body portion, an inlet tube fixed within the inlet end of said body portion, a baflle between said tubes, a vent tube in the body portion, extending into the liquid in the bottle and having an aperture, 2. float slidable on the vent tube and having means to control the vent aperture, a stop, a catch carried by the float and locking with said stop to cause said float means to permanently close the vent aperture when the liquid in the bottle has been dispensed, said vent tube having an upper aperture opening into the body portion, and means to close the vent tube below said upper aperture and to bring'the upper portion of the vent tube into communicationwith said upper aperture. 1

4. In a non-refillable bottle mechanism, a body portion, a 'valve having limited movement in the body portion and controlling discharge from the bottle, a tubular baflie above said valve having a side discharge port, a second valve controlling said side port, and slidably mounted in said bafile, means to lock said second valve in its inward position and thereby retain said first valve. in closed position, a vent tube extending from the body portion into the liquid in the bottle and having an aperture, a float slidable on said vent tube, a sleeve connected with said float and con-- trolling said aperture, a stop, and a spring. catch on the float cooperating with said stop tol iinit movement of the float and to lock thefl'oat in a position to have its sleeve close the ;vent. tube aperture. I

5. In a non-refillable bottle mechanism, aisece" tional body portion, an outer sleeve secured to the body portion and adapted to be permanent-- ly fixed in a bottle neck, a valve having limited movement in the body portion and controlling discharge from the bottle, a battle above the valve forming with the body portiona'circuitous discharge passage, a vent tube extendingfromthe body portion into the liquid in the bottle, havin g a lower aperture below the level of the liquid, and having an upper aperture opening .intothe body portion, a float controlling said lower aperture, and a member-to close the vent tube below the upper. aperture and, to bring the venttube above the upper aperture into communication with the interior of the body portion.

6. In a non-refillable bottle mechanism, a body portion, inlet and discharge tubes fixed in the body portion, a valve having a stem extending into the inlet tube and longitudinally extending grooves in its body, an apertured disc limiting movement of said valve, a tubular baflle outwardly of said disc, a valve controlling said baflle and having means to pass through and engage said limiting disc and to seat said first valve in its closed position, and a vent tube having its lower end closed and having an aperture,

and a float controlling said aperture of the vent tube.

'7. In a non-refillable bottle mechanism, a body portion, inlet and discharge tubes fixed in the body portion, a valve having a stem extending into the inlet tube and longitudinally extending grooves in its body; an apertured disc limiting movement of said valve, a tubular bafile outwardly of said disc, a valve controlling said baflle and having means to pass through and engage said limiting disc and to seat said first valve in its closed position, a vent tube having its lower end closed and having an aperture, and a float controlling said aperture of the vent tube, and an outwardly opening check valve in said vent tube.

8. In a non-refillable bottle mechanism, a sectional body portion, means to secure the sections assembled, an upper and a lower flanged tube in the body portion, a valve controlling the lower tube, a vent tube in the body portion and extending into the bottle with a closed end and an aperture above said closed end, a float on the tube controlling said aperture and having means to lock it in position to close said aperture, said vent tube having a port opening into the interior of the body portion, and a sectional locking tube in the upper end of the vent tube, one section of which has an aperture to communicate with the vent aperture opening into the body portion.

LUDWIG A. IHLEIN. 

